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Pioneer - SUNLEY, William
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
|
SUNLEY, William
, (d.), was b. Helmsley, Blackmoor, Yorkshire, Eng. He came to Canada in 1831
with his family, and after stopping in Toronto for about four years, where he
worked at shoemaking, in 1835, came to Eramosa Tp., and purchased 200 acres of
land, lot 9, con. 2, which he cleaned and lived upon until a few months before
his death, which took place in Guelph at the home of his son William. In the
early days when trout were plentiful, it was a familiar sight to see Mr. Sunley
fishing in the various Eramosa streams with fly at which he was an expert and
an authority in the Eramosa district. In religion he was a Congregationalist,
and was a Reformer in politics. He m. Rachael Coats. Issue: Robert (d.
Michigan), William (d. Rockwood), Elizabeth (d.), m. William Hampson, in
Toronto; George (d. Guelph), John (d. Guelph), Henry (d. Guelph), Mary (d.), m.
Joseph Parkinson, Eramosa, and Noah (d. Guelph). Of these, George was b. in
England, in 1815, and was apprenticed there to a tinsmith, but when the family
decided to come to Canada he was bought off, and came with them. On arriving in
Toronto he engaged, to complete his trade, with on Musson. Upon Musson's death
in 1834, he left Toronto and came to Guelph, where he started the first
tinsmithing business in the place, being located on the Waterloo road. He later
removed to Macdonnell Street, and afterwards to the present Sunley site on
Market Square. About 1855 he took Robert Melvin as partner under the firm name
of Sunley and Melvin, and as such the business was conducted until his death in
1857. Some years previous to this he bought the Matheson interest in the
foundry business of Smith, Matheson & Co., and the business was conducted as
Smith, Sunley & Co., until Mr. Sunley's death. The foundry business was on the
site of the present opera house. Mr. Sunley had planned to build a large
foundry and a new residence in the summer of 1857, but his sudden death on the
30th March of that year changed all this, and cut short the career of one of
the most prominent men of the city. He was a member of the Guelph Town Council,
Reeve for one year, and was Mayor from Jan. 1st, 1857, until his death in March
of that year, being the second Mayor of Guelph. He was an uncompromising
Reformer and a warm supporter of William Lyon Mackenzie, who attended his
funeral in Guelph. Mr. Sunley was tendered the nomination for the local House,
but refused to accept as he wished to devote his energies to his business, and
enjoy his domestic happiness to a greater extent. In 1839 he m. Sarah, dau. of
the late Mark Tovell. In 1860, his widow m. Thomas H. Taylor (d.), 1882, and
she still survives at the age of 86. His family were: Mary (d.), m George W.
Jessop (d.), formerly Appraiser of Customs, Ottawa; William, Elizabeth, m. John
Hall (d.), who was an architect in Guelph; George, on Kirkland Street; Hannah,
m. James E. Sheridan, Syracuse, N.Y., and two sons died in infancy.
William Sunley, b. in Guelph, 1841. In 1862, at 21 years of age he continued the business started by his father, and has been in it since. He is an active worker in Reform ranks, but won't accept municipal office. He is a Methodist in religion. He m. Chloe A. Sheridan, who d. in 1883. Surviving issue: Mrs. Chas. W. Morton, Guelph; Mrs. Wm. B. Ker, Toronto; A. Alberta, at home. William Sunley was one of the earliest members of the Maple Leaf Baseball Team, being the first pitcher of the team, and continuing as such for 10 years. He has always been a supporter of field sports, also been a very prominent Odd Fellow, being one of the charter members of Progress Lodge, I.O.O.F. Is a Past Grand, Past Patriarch and Past District Deputy Grand and Past District Grand Deputy Grand Patriarch. He was initiated in Reliance Lodge, I.O.O.F., and three years later drew out to organize Progress Lodge. Noah Sunley was nearly three years of age when he came with his parents to Canada, and six years of age when he went with them to Eramosa Tp. In his boyhood days he used to go with his farther on fishing trips, and the liking for a day's sport with rod or gun never left him, as his evidenced by the fact that he was known to hunt foxes all day after he attained the age of 70. As a young man he came to Guelph and learned the tinsmithing trade with his brother George, after which he engaged in the tinsmithing and stove business on Macdonnell Street West, for some time. He then moved to the present site of the Canadian Express and G.N.W. office where being burned out, he rebuilt and continued until 1862, when he retired from active business for about 8 years. After this he started a nursery and flower business having 40 acres in Galt's survey, and 5 acres of Grange Street, where he lived. He continued this business until his death in 1904. Mr. Sunley did not aspire to political or municipal office but took a decided stand as an advocate of protection, and was an ardent supporter of James Goldie, when he ran on the M.P. ticket, and later of Sir John A. Macdonald, but did not join hands with any party. Mr. Sunley was a great friend of the late Dr. John Howitt, and often accompanied him on his professional visits, and as he was a great reader as well as a great observer himself became quite proficient in medicine. In 1848 he m. Esther Ann, dau. of the late Henry Webster of Fergus (she d. 1894, age 67). Issue: William (d. 1849), Elizabeth Turton (d. infancy), Annie, m. Edwin Parkinson. Ex-Alderman of Guelph; Samuel C., William (d.), Elizabeth (d.), Rachael, Guelph, and George H., Vancouver. Of these, Samuel C., b. Guelph, 1854, was with his father until his death, and now continues the nursery business established by him. Henry Sunley, b. Yorkshire, Eng., received half of the homestead which his son Noah now owns. He m. Eliza, dau. of James Benham. Issue: Mrs. William McFarlane, Eramosa; Noah, Mrs. John Sockett, Eramosa; Mrs. Leonard Parkinson, Eramosa; James (d.), and George (d. 13). Noah was b. and raised in Eramosa Tp. He first bought lot 26, con. 4, but later sold it and purchased the original Sunley homestead. He has been prominent in the municipal affairs of the township, being Councillor, three years, and Reeve, two years. He m. Anna A., dau. of Thomas Day. Issue: Edith E., Henry and Louis. James (d.), m. Elizabeth Hawkins, and lived and died on the homestead. Issue: Mary , George, Ida, and Roy (d. 14). From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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